Time once again for the morning feature you can’t skip — the Obamateurism of the Week poll! You may not look like an expert on presidential gaffes, but don’t let that stop you from placing a bet on your favorite choice this week. No matter which you endorse, though, just remember that you have to cast a vote, because you can only change the results from the inside.
Previous weekly “winners” in 2012:
- No time to meet with Netanyahu, makes time for the Pimp with a Limp radio show
- Ordering platform change after criticism over God, Jerusalem
- Sends form letters to families of SEALs KIA, personal letter to family of rapper Heavy D
- “I don’t think you or anybody who’s been watching the campaign would say that in any way we have tried to divide the country.”
- Hiding from WH press corps while giving interviews to People and Entertainment Tonight
- Asks supporters to find businesses to support his “you didn’t build that” argument
- “Because we’re leading around the world, people have a new attitude toward America. There’s more confidence in our leadership. We see it everywhere we go.”
- “Just like we’ve tried their plan, we tried our plan — and it worked.”
- “If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.”
- “But the nature of this office is also to tell a story to the American people…”
- Pitches amnesty policy at naturalization ceremony of people who entered legally
- Removing silverware from tables before speaking to Hispanic voters
- Scolds American Crossroads for lack of transparency … on same day Obama asserted executive privilege in Fast & Furious probe
- “The private sector is doing fine“
- Declares Lech Walesa “too political” to accept award, gives another to Dolores Huerta, chair of Democratic Socialists of America
- “Polish death camp“
- “[T]hose of us who have spent time in the real world . . .”
- Adds himself into presidential histories of his predecessors, screws up JFK quote
- “When I think about, ah, those soldiers or airmen or Marines, sailors, who are out there fighting on my behalf …”
- Includes Nazi collaborator/Hitler admirer in proclamation for Jewish American Heritage Month
- Obamas griped that the American public just did not appreciate their exceptional leader
- Gets annoyed when asked about number of vacations, doesn’t answer question
- “I’m confident that the Supreme Court will not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress.”
- “This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.”
- Blames Fox News for his unpopularity because “they hear Obama is a Muslim 24/7, and it begins to seep in”
- Attacks Limbaugh while remaining silent on Maher contribution to his super-PAC
- Says “when the chips are down, I have Israel’s back,” WH claims it’s not a military doctrine
- Apology to Karzai “calmed things down“
- Uses Boeing plant in SC to cheer manufacturing after his NLRB tried to shut it down
- Emphasizes graduation rates in SOTU, cuts DC voucher program that nearly doubled grad rates
- “Well, it turns out our Founders designed a system that makes it more difficult to bring about change that I would like sometimes.”
- Finds claim of unemployment “interesting” because he is getting “the word” that woman’s husband should have no trouble finding work
- Hails Roe as essential to allow “our daughters … to fulfill their dreams“
- Shuts down DisneyWorld in order to promote tourism
- “He didn’t want to take pictures with any more soldiers; he was complaining about it[.]
- Famous opponent of signing statements issues one covering 17 provisions of bill he signed
Previous Obamateurisms of the Year:
- Giving 2 minutes of “shout-outs” before getting to the Fort Hood shooting (2009)
- Obama leaves Clinton at press conference podium on tax deal to attend Christmas party (2010)
- “I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president— with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln.” (2011)
Got an Obamateurism of the Day? If you see a foul-up by Barack Obama, e-mail it to me at [email protected] with the quote and the link to the Obamateurism. I’ll post the best Obamateurisms on a daily basis, depending on how many I receive. Include a link to your blog, and I’ll give some link love as well. And unlike Slate, I promise to end the feature when Barack Obama leaves office.